Please be aware when you read your own meter – it can be dangerous for you or for others because:

meters are usually located in public areas – most are under the pavement or a footpath

some are under the road, making it dangerous to access them

if the lid is not replaced correctly, it could cause an accident

How to read your meter

If you do want to read your meter, please follow these steps carefully:

Remove the cover from the meter box. To open most meter chambers, insert a flat-headed screwdriver into the recess on the edge of the cover and lever it up.

Take a note of the black figures. These represent cubic metres of water. Depending on the size and make of the meter, there could be between four and six black digits. We will need all the black digits. The register face of the meter usually looks like this:

If the meter is in the road, we do not recommend that you try to remove the cover and read it as this could be dangerous.

If the meter is under a pavement, footpath or verge, it’s very important to ensure that the cover is replaced securely so it does not cause any danger to others.

Where is your meter?

Your water meter is fitted to the pipe that connects your property to the mains. Most water meters are under the pavement, footpath or grass verge near the front boundary of your property. Some meters are under the road or on an outside wall.

If you live in a flat or communal property and you share your boundary stop tap, your meter could be inside the building, next to the inside stop tap.

Press Office

Journalists can contact the Press Office on 01392 443020 or via email.

Should you get a water meter?

Water meters have important benefits for you, for us and for the environment as you can have more control over your water use and leaks are easier to detect.